Small businesses continue to suffer from a lack of proper financing. The UK government has consistently tried to stimulate lending to small and medium-sized firms (SMEs) through its Funding for Lending (FLS) scheme.

This month sees the launch of a new finance-industry body. Innovate Finance (IF) is an “organisation that will accelerate the UK's leading position in the global financial services sector, by directly supporting the next era of technology-led financial services innovators, whether they be a young start-up or an established industry player.”